Events

Posthumously 5 years after his death in 2021 to Covid 19, former Consultant Pathologist and former Honorary Vice President of the "Friends of Eastbourne Hospitals, revered local historian and long term member of ELHS Dr John Surtees is our speaker with illustrations included, in a talk he gave to the Eastbourne Medical and Law Societies in September 2014 at the UGT Eastbourne

A Heritage List is a formal process developed by Heritage England to allow community groups and other interested groups, to identify local heritage assets that are not considered important enough to be included in the National Heritage List for England.

Kevin Gordon will explain the importance of raising awareness of the heritage list and how we can all help protect these assets.

Eastbourne had no such list so in 2023 a group of volunteers compiled a list for our town. At the time of writing there are 429 items on the list from licence plates, boundary markers and even a domestic garden feature (pictured). If you think something should be added to the list then contact Kevin who is the co-ordinator.

Michael Ockenden was born in Eastbourne in 1938 and became interested in history thanks to the inspiration of John Harrison, Senior History Master at Eastbourne Grammar School. Michael is a founder member of the ELHS and is the author of some of the titles in the ELHS publications range.

Kim Adams in conversation will ask Michael about his memories of WW2 Eastbourne, his career in the Navy and RAF and his interest in local history to mention a few.

This promises to be a fascinating evening.